Ambulance Diversion Policy Being Tested in Stanislaus County
An ambulance diversion policy trial for hospital emergency departments in Stanislaus County "has had the positive effect of keeping ambulance turnaround to a minimum" and could become permanent policy, according to county officials, the Modesto Bee reports.
Emergency service officials, hospitals and ambulance companies decided to try the diversion policy between June and November 2005, and it was later extended through the winter. Under the policy, hospitals can divert most ambulances for two-hour periods.
If more than one of the county's four hospitals with an ED goes on diversion status at the same time, ambulances revert back to the previous rotation policy.
The diversion policy has been extended through 2006, and the Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency could ask its board to permanently adopt the policy next year (Carlson, Modesto Bee, 3/10).